Extension table



April 13, 1943.

' T. E. Mol-'ALL EXTENS ION TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1942 Mw. @In

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April 13, 1943. T. E MCFALL EXTENSION TABLE Fild May 4, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 13, 1943. T E, MCFALL l 2,316,448

EXTENS I ON TABLE Filed May 4, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v `BVQBOT www E; man

' M M I A'ffofni Patented Apr. 13, 1943 2,316,448 EXTENSION TABLE Thurlow E. McFall, Sparta, Mich., assignor to Michigan Artcraf-t Company, Sparta, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,635

l(Cl. S11-42) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to extension tables and is primarily concerned with simple practical and novel improvements in extension tables yof the type shown in my Patent No. 2,153,262 granted April 4, 1939. 'Y

vThe table of the above identified patent may be retracted to a very small compass, one main part of the table top being folded over two top parts which lie in the same horizontal plane, one of said parts being narrow compared to the remaining parts of the table top. The two lower top members or parts have a combined width equal to that of the other top member which is foldable 4to lie thereover in the retracted and small space occupying position of the table.

Such table has proven Very practical and useful and has been largely manufactured and sold by the owner of the patent and licensees thereunder. It has been the endeavor to eliminate the narrow top member to which the Wider top member is hingedly connected, and there has been devised the table construction shown in Patent No. 2,253,010 granted August 19, 1941, illustrating an extensible table top having two top members of the same width, one foldable to lie over the other in one position or turnable to lie in the same horizontal plane therewith. When unfolded to horizontal position the two top members may be brought into abutting relationship to form a table top or maybe separated for the insertion of filler leaves between them.

Such construction shown in the last mentioned patent is greatly improved in the present application. In the construction shown in Patent No. 2,253,010 the hinges used permit relative movement of the foldable top member with respect to the under top member upon which it rests which may result in damage to the nish. The hinge construction used and the manner in which it is applied to the top members` in the present invention eliminates loose or lost motion and the table devised is free of such` defects and damage which might occur therefrom, perfecting the table so that it is a practical and commercial product. Various other improvements in structure make a perfected commercial table.

The invention may be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

.1. is a plan view of the table in contracted and top folded position.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the table extended to permit the upper top member to be turned through an arc of to lie in the same plane with the under top member.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the table extended to receive a ller leaf between the two main top members.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a hinge, a number of which are used for hingedly mounting the folda'ble top member.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the upper part of the table in its contracted and smallest space occupying position.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the iirst step in extending the table to position for the turning of the movable top member to lie in the same plane with the lower xed top member.

f Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, with the foldableftop member turned to lie in the same plane with and abutting against the under fixed top member,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section similar to Figs. 7 and 8, the two top members being separated with a filler leaf between, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the middle portion shown in Fig. 8, after the foldable top section has been turned to lie in the same plane with the xed top section and before they have been brought into abutting engagement. I

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diierent gures of the drawings. y

In the construction of the table a horizontal top member l 'is provided which is supported by corner legs 2 between which isa vertical rail 3, side rails 4 extending from the legs 2 underneath the ends of the top member l. Said top member l is permanently secured to theparts 3 and 4 and the legs.

The other top member 5 is preferably of the same size and outline as the fixed top member l and is adaptedto lie directlyover and against the top member l in the folded position of the table, as in Fig. 6. When it is turned to a hori- Eontal position in the same plane with the xed top member I, it is carried by two spaced corner legs 6 between which is a rail 'I similar to the rail 3, with side members 8 extending underneath the end portions ofthe top member 5 and which are connected to the legs 5 and to the rail?, and are also secured together by a'horizontal cross board 9 as shown,

To the side members 8 one of the end slides of two series of extensible slides are connected. Each of the extensible slides includes center slide members I slidably connected with slide members II and I2 at one side and IIa and I2a at the other side, the members I2a being permanently secured to the under side of the top member I. The slide members I2 lie inside of and are secured to the side parts 8 as shown. The detail of the extensible slides need not `be described as such detail is old and Well known in extension slides for tables.

The foldable top member at its inner edge has hinged connection to the outer 'ends `of the center slides I0 through a connection cross bar I3 secured to and extending 'between ysaid center slides I0. Each of thehinges usedis va modification of the well known concealed hinge known as the Soss hinge. Such Lbinges, .'inFig. 5, show an upper hinge member made .of sheet metal having a part I4 of U-shape in cross'section, attaching ears L5 turned Qppositelyfrom one end of each of the .sides .of etheU, and Isaid sides of the U .provided Vwith inclined grooves at their inner lsidesmade by pressing out opposite Aribs I5. `'In the regular Soss hinge, the lower member of the hinge is of the same .construction, but `with my :invention the .lower member includesa part I'I Loffsheet metalof U- shaped cross section, the sides having the grooves ,provided .in .the same manner iby 'the outwardly pressed ribs I8. Attachingears similar to the ears I5 on the upper memberare not provided with my invention, rhut'the ybottom of the hinge member II is extended a short distance and widened ias'at y20 ,and then turned downwardly at right angles, Las indicated at 2l. The two hinge members I4 and I1 are connected .together by va plurality iof links i9 which are :all .pivotally `joined :together between their ends, alternate Jlinks :having pivotal :connection atoneend to the hingemembers II!:and I'Irespectively, `the other .ends of said Ylinks having pins extending therethrough which traverse the grooves'made by .the ribs II and I8.

With `my :invention `the .hinge parts I4 are inset at the inner edge ofithe'top'member .5.and secured .byscrews ,passing vthrough the ears I5 in the .usual manner of .attaching concealed hinges of 'the type idescribed. The other memlbersfII of the hinges .used are :connectedlto 'and at -tli'eoutervertical:sitle'of the bar I3 by means of screws passing through the parts 2|.

lLinkageconsistinghf two links 22 .and 23 -are pivoted together .at 24 at :adjacent ends. The

other end of the1ink22 haspivotal `connection to the 'board 29 and thai; 'of the `.link23 to the under fside of .the :bar I3. 'The first step on enlarging the table is to '-movethe legs 6 'and the parts "I, i8 4and '9 connected therewith `outwardly as inFig."7, theslides II 'and AI2being extended, as in Fig. 2, until links 22 and Y23 are in jalinement. Any further-'outward movement will cause'thealined links topull upon the bar I3 whereupon the slides I0 and IIawill be extended as indicatedin Fig. 9.

In practice when the table is .to have its stop enlarged withoutusing any filler leaves the extens'ion'isas in Fig. 42, whereupon the top member 5 may be-as in Fig.`2 .or Fig. 7, and may be turned .through 180 to the position shown in Fig. 8; or the extension .may vbe slightly .farther than shown Yin Fig. -2 with va separation A.of the top members I and A45 a short distance, asin .Fig. 10, with a moving of thefslides back .soas vto bring the two top members I and 5 into abutting engagement.

For the greater extension it is desirable that the central portion of the table be supported. For this purpose a board 25 extends between and at the under sides of and is connected to the center slide members I0, moving therewith. At the under side of the board a supporting leg may be mounted. Such leg may be centrally located midway between opposite sides of the table permanently secured to the board 25 and extend downwardly therefrom. Preferably, it `will lbe .of the folding type shown at 26, the detail of which is not described as it is fully set Iforth in a pending application, Ser. No. 417,612 le'dNovember l3, 1941, as an improvement of Patent 'No.2,2'68,042 granted December 30, 1941.

'The inner 'edge of the top member I is recessed at 21 to provide openings to receive the parts -II 'of the hinges when the table is folded :and the .table is .in itssmallest space occupying position (Figf), or when'it is unfolded and no fillers used, -as in Fig. 8. The upper .edge of the cross rail -1 is likewise provided with shallow recesses 28 to provide space for the horizontal sections -20 of the vlower .hinge members when the table is in its smallest space occupying position (Fig. .6). The filler or llers 29 at one edge likewise Vare provided Ywith recesses, like the Vrecesses 21, in the top member I for the entrance of the hinge parts I'I as shown in Fig. 9.

The construction is sturdy and one in which the partsI'I of the hinges are held in all directions against any loose or aimless movement, in effect substantially thesame as though the hinge parts IJ were securely connected with the top member I. In such position of the hinges the movable top ,member 5 may be folded into the positions shown in eitherFig. 6 or Fig. 8 without lateral movement'cf the movable top member with respect to the under top member, guarding againstrubbing of the contacting finished sides of the two top members against each other which might `marordeface such finish. The construction described is particularly practical, useful and economical, may be manufactured at low cost, is durable inservice and is thoroughly commercial in all respects. .It-does'away with the narrow top member to -which the foldable top member is hinged inmy previous Patent No. 2,153,262, costing less to build and avoiding the double division which is inescapably present in the table top of my previous patent ywhen no filler leaves are used. In the patent, No. 2,253,010 looseness of connection and instability.is,overcome'and removed by the.snug.r.eception.in thesocket ,recess ZI of the parts .I.`I.,o'f the hinges.

The invention .is `defined in the appended claimsand istobe considered comprehensive of `all;struc':tures coming within their scope.

'I claim:

1. In a table, two groups of extensible slides, a top member permanently secured to one of the end slides of each of said groups, a second top member, two-part'hinges connecting said second top member with an intermediate slide member of each group, a supporting structure connected to the other ends of said extensible slide groups, said fixed top member being provided with recesses at an edge and the parts of said hinges connected with said intermediate slides having projecting portions to enter said recesses in which position the hinged top member may be turned to lie over and :against the fixed top member or lie in the sameplane therewith, as specified.

2. In a table, two horizontal extensible sections having supporting legs at their outer portions, a horizontal top member permanently secured over one of said sections, a second top member having hinges at one edge and hingedly and movably mounted with respect to the first top member, said irst and second top members having edge abutting engagement in one position, the second top member being supported by outward extension of its associated section, and said second top member being also adapted to be turned on its hinges through an arc of substantially 180 to lie over and against the first top section, in which position the supporting legs therefor may be moved underneath said superimposed top sections, said hinges having projections and the fixed top section having recesses to receive said projections to stabilize the said top sections with respect to each other during said turning movement and after the second top member is superimposed over the rst top member.

3. In a table top, two groups of extensible slides each comprising a plurality of slide members, a top member permanently secured to one of the end slides of each of said groups of slides, a second top member of the same dimensions as the first top member, hinges connecting the second top member with an intermediate slide of each group, said hinges each comprising two hinge members, -one inset at the inner edge of the seoond top member and the other having a portion within the inner edge of said first top member when the top members are in superimposed relation and having means connected with said intermediate slide members, said xed top member having recesses to receive said portions of the hinge parts located within its inner edge.

THURLOW E. MCFALL. 

